Chapter Two:The pepper incident
881 Words
The sun barely kissed the sky when Ella woke up, stretching her arms and taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The mansion felt colder in the morning light, almost as if it were waiting for her to settle in, to make it feel like home. It was a luxury she had never known, but it was her new reality now—working for Xander Anderson,the egotistical billionaire with the sharp tongue and colder demeanor.
She quickly got ready, pulling her hair back into a neat ponytail and donning her uniform. The apron was tight around her waist, but it felt like a small price to pay to secure the job. She had been through worse—this would be nothing.
Ella had already been to the kitchen, preparing a simple breakfast for him. Eggs, toast, and bacon. But she figured she would add her own touch: a dash of spice. Xander seemed like the type who'd prefer everything to be perfect—so why not go the extra mile? She had her doubts, but she trusted her instincts, and today, her instincts told her he might enjoy something a little different.
She sprinkled a good amount of pepper on the eggs and hummed as she made sure everything was just right. It didn’t take long before she set the table, carefully placing the food in front of the chair she assumed was his. She had no idea where he’d sit, but it seemed appropriate.
By the time she was done, there was a familiar noise coming from upstairs—footsteps heavy against the floorboards, the sound of a man waking up to start his day.
Ella took a deep breath. She’d survived the night, which meant she could survive this. Her first day working here had been nothing short of awkward. Xander’s rude comments had left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she wasn’t one to back down. She would handle it. After all, she had a job to do.
The sound of his boots echoed down the staircase as he made his way into the dining room. His tall frame appeared in the doorway, and she stood to greet him with a polite nod.
"Good morning," she said, her voice steady despite the nerves swirling inside her. "I’ve made breakfast for you."
Xander glanced at the spread on the table but didn’t say a word. His eyes moved from the eggs to the toast and finally landed on the pepper.
Ella noticed the shift in his posture, the way his jaw tensed. He wasn't a fan of her attempt at flavor.
He sat down at the table, scooting the chair back with a sharp scrape against the polished floor. His eyes narrowed as he poked at the eggs with his fork. Then, without warning, he put a bite in his mouth. He chewed once, then twice, his expression hardening.
"Pepper!" he suddenly bellowed, slamming his fork down onto the plate, causing a loud clink.
Ella froze, unsure if she should laugh or apologize. His face was already red with frustration, and he looked like he might explode.
"You've put *way* too much pepper on this!" His voice was dripping with disdain. "Do you even know what you're doing in the kitchen?"
Ella blinked, trying to hold back a smile. She had thought he’d be picky, but she hadn’t expected this. She wasn’t sure why, but the sight of him so worked up over something as trivial as pepper made her want to laugh.
"I’m so sorry, Mr. Anderson," she said, trying to keep her tone respectful. "I thought you might like a bit of spice."
"A bit?" He glared at her like she'd committed a great offense. "This isn't spice. This is an assault on my taste buds. Do you even know how to cook properly?"
The red in his face seemed to spread further, and before she could respond, Xander stood abruptly, knocking his chair backward. He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair and stormed toward the door.
Ella couldn’t help herself anymore. She burst into laughter, the sound light and freeing. His angry, pompous stride as he stormed out of the house left her shaking her head.
It was only then that she noticed the strangest thing—the more he yelled, the more she found herself smiling. Maybe it was because, despite the ridiculousness of the situation, he was kind of amusing in his outrage.
"Have a good day!" she called after him, still grinning.
Xander didn’t respond, and she doubted he even heard her. He slammed the door behind him, and the mansion was silent once more.
But Ella couldn’t shake the thought that lingered in her mind: *What a strange, impossible man.*
Shaking her head, she went back to the kitchen, still chuckling to herself. Maybe her new life would be full of chaos and frustration, but in that moment, it was also full of humor. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
- Writer
